God I miss the South

HAPPY EASTER

My easter was spent working a 9 hour shift at work. But on another note the easter bunny left me 60 quid in tips...

Here should be a picture of my favorite apple.
It is also a nude and a bottle.
It is also a landscape.
There are no such things as still lifes.
-Erica Jong

European Ad

"Look at us...we are having so much fun...we are aliens from planet fashion."

You don't need to leave your room
Remain sitting at your table and listen.
Don't even, simply wait.
Be quite and still

and solitary.

The world will freely offer itself to you.
To be unmasked, it has no choice.
It will roll in ecstasy at your feet.

-Frank Kafka

Money green...well not pound notes

GOMA

Glasgow's museaum of Modern Art

"DId I shave my pits for this??"

Building in Glasgow

Impromtu visit to Glasgow

Had a day off, thoght whythehellnot?

Make your dreams out of paper mache

Store front window of stationary shop

To all the Memories we Lose in Sleep

Lately it has been warm enough that I don't need to bundle up and look like the Michelin man when I go on a jog which is thrilling to me. The ground here is perfect for running as it is one big sponge. Whenever I feel lazy which is often especially when I am running by myself I make up games that would necessitate me running faster such as pretending that the women way ahead of me has OHMYGOD A BOMB IN HER BABY CARRiAGE INSTEAD OF HER PRECIOUS LITTLE ONE (caps are used because of the severity of the sitcuation) and I am the only one who knows. I bolt, dodging combing out of peoples way without even a "excuse me", heart thumping just like the bomb catching up to her only to realize by that I have been misinformed (I can't even follow directions in my fake scenerios) and it is actually the mans parcel A STREET AHEAD that has the bomb and it's starting to tick!

In my imagination I have saved Edinburgh many times over.

Spring?

Spring is here like a pre-medopausal women...hot and cold. Yesterday we saw hail and a rainbow in the same day.

It's a bird...it's a plane...it's....a....stag party.

Swan Studies #2

Swan Studies

Had a fun time photographing them. Edited the photos to bring out the contours. I love the contrast being up...it reminds me of a Georgia O'keefe painting which reminds me of what Geogia O'keefe loved....tulips.

Hillwalking

On Sunday I went hillwalking outside of the city with a friend of mine here.

Despite mud puddles and gravity there were no comical falls.

Arthur's Seat

Help the Old: We will

The temp job has turned out to be a really good experience and I am kicking myself for not resorting to temp. work before. I have met some quality people and most of the time feel as though I am at a United Nations Meeting (we are from America, Sweden, Scotland, and Poland) rather than working.

Names that have stuck out in my mind recently:

Ms. Woolhead
Mr. Lovelace
Mr. Batcherlor
Mr. Loveday
Mr. Hardwood
Mr. Scot

Thoughts on the UK Education System

As is usually the case with jobs that are temporary the conversation eventually leads to what it REALLY is you want to do, the money you want to make and how one will go from point A to point B. We (the temp posse) got to the topic of student loans when someone says, "I am about 8,000 quid in debt." I give a smile to signal, "You're almost there....you can nearly see the light." And then he went on to say how outrageously expensive it was and how on earth he would find the way to get himself out of that jam.

Uh....Squeeze me? How much is school over there?!?!

1,200 pds. a year. That's all. And with that the university is able to house, teach, and pay their teachers.

America once again shafted. I wonder what OUR university is doing with nearly 10 times more money. Are they taking a bath in hundred dollar bills????!!? If so, they should know that money is actually VERY dirty and would make a horrible disinfectent.

"What exactly is Haggis?"

Yesterday at my waitressing job the resteraunt was filled with Americans...I counted and every single table actually. The tips were magnifisant. As Jay Z might say, "I'm a hussler homey." Most people are here to visit their children at the university and are straight off the boat. Jet lag hasn't worn off and the conversion rate hasn't sunken in.

When the bill comes they, without fail, ask

Americans: "You're not from the states are you?"
Me: Why yes I am. Washington DC.
Americans: ::gasp::: we are from (insert east coast city)!!?!? So you're studying at the University of Edinburgh I take it.
Me: You're from the states too?? wow! (not really suprised). I love (blank city) I looked at a college/have relatives/have friends that went to college there. No, I just graduated in May and I thought I would go to see the world while I still can because it gets harder the older you get with student loans and a job....so I am here just avoiding adulthood.
Americans: (sympathetic nod) You picked a great place to do it. Well isn't that something....we come all the way to Scotland to be served someone from WASHINGTON DC. How are you finding it??
Me: It's a lovely city...I feel really lucky to be doing this but the pound is killing me as you know. I try to be as thrifty as possible- I live in a hostel...a 16 bed in a room hostel and I cook my own food (cue the violens). But the experience itself is priceless (***and so are your upcoming tips***)... I've met so many fantastic people and it's a sacrifice I am willing to make.
Americans: That sure is nifty....you must miss your folks sometimes.
Me: Yeah- they are visiting here in a few months and I can't wait. I've been saving up all the touristey stuff for when I can do it with them. Here's your bill....hope you enjoyed your haggis. Oh yeah- I don't know if you were considering adding the tip on the credit card but..it's money that I never get to see. It's suppossed to go back into our wages after being taxed but it's really just something they tell us because our wages stay the same.
Americans: Can you read that amount on the receipt? I don't have my glasses.....what's 20% of (overpriced amount).
Me: Wow....I really appreciate that...Safe travels.

Ca-ching! Guaranteed 20-25% each time in tips. I will not be sleeping on the streets afterall.

That is how you do it.

None of it is a lie techincally....but I do somewhat Tiny Tim it.

On a side note- I'd like to thank the academy and my agent.

Not bad Scotland....

All the boats bobbed vacantly- except for one sole row boater. Rain threatened but never followed through.

Not bad at all....

I ate my packed lunch by the sea- this is down the road from my temp job. The sun shined and the winds blew.

From atop a double decker bus, aside the holligans and neds

You stink like the elephant house

I pass this mysterious building on my way to the temp job. What it is that goes on in there? Are they making pianos out of elephant tusks or what?

Hello my Name is Brenna and I am a biscuit addict.

I've been using since my time in the UK. It started off as a bite of whatever Maggie got but before I knew it I was eating thrown out chocolate cake from the "rubbish bin" at the resteraunt. I wake up with crumbs in my bedsheet and no memory of past events. Despite financial obstacles and belly aches I continue to act like...well a kid in a candy shop.